A Stage for Brussels

Ex-Citroën Yser Garage to Become Cultural Hub in Central Brussels

Going under the name of KANAL – Centre Pompidou, a new, ambitious cultural hub is set to open its doors in the heart of Brussels in 2022. The architectural project will comprise of a Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, CIVA Foundation (an architecture centre) as well as providing further public space within the building devoted to culture, education and leisure, such as a 400-seat auditorium.

Conceived by Belgian office noAarchitecten, Swiss office EM2N, and UK office ,Sergison Bates architects. As a ‘welcoming, lively and dynamic place of exchange, a place that invites all Brussels residents to feel at home’, the project was a winning contribution to the International Architecture Competition. Originally entitled ‘A Stage for Brussels’, jurors described the concept as ‘exceptionally well integrated in its context’.

With work beginning in autumn 2019, from which point the KANAL – Centre Pompidou will begin planning its future cultural activities, among them exhibitions, installations, performances, concerts and events.

Not only will the cultural hub be well integrated in its sociocultural context, the planned project is innovative in its reuse of the existing architecture. It will make use of the glass façade, which will become a display window. An electronic display sign will communicate information along the building’s white frieze. The project will also put a particular emhasis on sustainability, using sources of heat and cooling from the immediate environment.